A quality improvement project to improve patient experience through utilisation of a recreation room on a care of the elderly ward
Background: Elderly patients report less positive experience of hospital admission than younger patients 1. Targeted interventions have been shown to improve patient ability to perform activities of daily living and reduce frequency of discharges to long-term care facilities. Additionally, non-pharmacological interventions reduce incidence of delirium and prevent falls 2. We aimed to improve the inpatient experience on a care of the elderly ward through use of a recreation room for mealtimes and recreational activities. Methods: We performed a quality improvement project using patient and
Examining the correlation between glycemic control and malnutrition – A cross sectional study of older adults in Singapore.
Background: Type II Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) is a common condition managed by geriatricians. Drugs and treatment goals for T2DM are individualized to patient profile and physician preference. Some diabetic medications are also known to affect appetite and subsequently, nutrition. The authors examined whether there is a correlation between glycemic control and malnutrition in older adults. Methods: This cross-sectional study enrolled patients > 70 with T2DM in a teaching hospital in Singapore. Data was collected on age, sex, ethnicity, body-mass index (BMI), function (iADL-impairment), Barthel
CT head requests – Are they clinically indicated? A QIP conducted in Acute Frailty Unit(AFAU) at Princess Royal University Hospital
Poster Title: CT head requests – Are they clinically indicated? A QIP conducted in Acute Frailty Unit (AFAU) at Princess Royal University Hospital. Aim: 1. To find out how many inpatient CT heads are being completed for patients reviewed at AFAU. 2. To assess the main indications for requesting a CT head. 3. To assess how many CT heads were not clinically indicated, and to explore if there are any particular reasons why non-indicated scans are being done. 4. To identify areas of improvement in relation to CT head requests. 5. To improve the CT head request practice to 90% in a period 3 months
From ED to Discharge: A Quality Improvement Project Featuring Practice of Clinical Frailty Scale and Prevalence of Inpatient Frailty
Background: Older individuals living with frailty face a heightened risk of experiencing significant deterioration in their mental and physical well-being following seemingly minor health challenges. Our aim was to assess and enhance the practice of the Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) during inpatient assessments within a large teaching hospital. Methods: We conducted 2 cycles of retrospective data collection within a single centre setting, screening a total of 600 patients focussing on; age ≥65, level of frailty, location of CFS assessment - Emergency Department (ED), Medical Assessment Unit
De-prescribing within the East Kent Community Frailty Team: assessment of medication review processes and potential cost-savings
Introduction Older people living with frailty are often prescribed many medications exposing them to potential medicine-related harm. Pharmacists are a new addition to the East Kent Community Frailty Team, which otherwise consists of doctors and advanced clinical practitioners at various levels of training. Pharmacists are ideally placed to develop medication review processes and support fellow clinicians with deprescribing efforts in frailty. This audit set out to determine current levels of medication review and associated cost-savings through deprescribing. Method All patients admitted to
Geriatrician involvement with community multi-disciplinary teams to support people living with frailty and reduce readmissions
Introduction Factors contributing to frailty result in increased hospitalisations, with 5- 10% of patients attending Accident and Emergency department living with frailty, and 30% of those patients admitted to acute medical units (Conroy, 2013). Hospital admissions result in functional decline and deconditioning (Get It Right First Time, 2021). The number of people in the UK over the age of 85 is set to double in the next 20 years and treble in the next 30 (Office of National Statistics, 2013). Their needs are best met in the community with a multi-disciplinary approach. Method Patients
A study on antipsychotic medication prescription in elderly patients in Royal Gwent Hospital.
Introduction -The use of anti-psychotics is higher in older people than their younger adult counterparts due to high prevalence of dementia/delirium. Anti-psychotic drugs cause side effects which include cardio vascular, metabolic, extra pyramidal and high risk of falls. So, we set out to do a QIP on antipsychotic medication prescription on our Geriatric wards and compared it with NICE guidelines. Method- We had 2 approaches to use. Firstly, we prepared a check list for anti-psychotic medication monitoring according to NICE guidelines 2021 and we applied this retrospectively to 17 patients who
Application of STOPP/START criteria to reduce polypharmacy among Elderly patients: a Geriatric medicine ward-based clinical audit
Introduction: The number of older adults has been constantly growing around the world. Chronic disease occurrence and concurrency increase with age, and medication use rises correspondingly. The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines multi-morbidity as the “ co-occurrence of two or more chronic medical conditions in one patient.” The most commonly used definition of Polypharmacy is “taking co-currently five or more medications daily by an individual.” Polypharmacy is associated with increased mortality, falls, adverse drug reactions, hospital stay, readmission, and medication costs. STOPP
Enhancing Heart Failure Management in Geriatric Patients: A Tertiary Hospital Study and the Growing Significance of SGLT2 Inhibitors
The 2022 national heart failure audit noted, "Older patients are less likely to access diagnostics, lifesaving drugs, and specialist care.” Additionally, there is evidence suggesting that they are less frequently initiated on disease-modifying drugs (DMD). The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) supports the use of SGLT2 inhibitors for those with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). However, this has recently expanded to those with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). This is significant for elderly heart failure patients as SGLT2 inhibitors offer a
ReSPECT form completion - A quality improvement project reviewing the accuracy and completeness of ReSPECT form documentation and DNACPR decisions
Background: Clear and accurate documentation of a Recommended Summary Plan for Emergency Care and Treatment (ReSPECT) form and Do Not Attempt Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (DNACPR) decision is vital to ensure patients receive appropriate care and autonomy regarding their end-of-life management. Inaccuracies or omissions allow potential for unnecessary or harmful interventions to occur. Aims/Objectives: To produce ≥20% improvement in accuracy and overall completion of all sections of respiratory inpatient ReSPECT forms, with particular focus on DNACPR decisions, during a four-month respiratory
The future of research: Participant perspectives on remote trial delivery
Introduction The PROMOTe trial was conducted entirely remotely, which aimed to enable a wider recruitment of participants, minimise risk of Covid-19 exposure and adhere to former travel restrictions. Participant experiences with remote clinical trials are not well understood. This work aimed to characterise participant perspectives on the remote delivery of the PROMOTe trial. Methods The trial involved remote measurement of short physical performance battery and grip strength, and remote collection of stool, urine, saliva, and capillary blood. Equipment including a dynamometer was posted to
Effect of Early Intervention By Physiotherapy And Occupational Therapy On Older Inpatient Population
Effect of Early Intervention By Physiotherapy And Occupational Therapy On Older Inpatient Population
Effect of Early Intervention By Physiotherapy And Occupational Therapy On Older Inpatient Population S Kotak 1, C Miller 2 1 Senior Physiotherapist, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust 2Consultant Geriatrician, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust Background: Currently, on inpatient medical wards at University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, the first contact by therapy teams (physiotherapy and occupational therapy) is made when patients become medically optimised for discharge. This is due to a number of reasons such as staffing and resource shortages. Aim: Analyse the
Development of a Frailty memory service - improving access to dementia diagnosis with focus on admission avoidance.
Introduction: The Community Geriatrician team based at the Countess of Chester Hospital is a multidisciplinary team offering comprehensive assessments at home to older patients with frailty. The team review frail patients identified as being at risk of hospital admission. Cognitive impairment and dementia are increasingly common concerns in our patient group and significant risk factors for admission. Frail patients often struggle to access traditional memory clinics for a variety of reasons and can therefore remain undiagnosed. They often require a more holistic approach in their home
Increasing number of deaths related to Parkinson’s disease (PD) and Parkinsonism
Introduction The burden of PD has exponentially risen from 2.5 million in 1990, to 6.1 million in 2016 (PD Collaborators. Lancet Neurol. 2018; 17(11):939-53). This is due to ageing population, increased longevity, increased duration of the disease and improved diagnosis. The aim of our study was to identify the trend on deaths related to PD and Parkinsonism over the last decade. Methods We collected our data from the Office of the National Statistics, using codes G20 (PD), G21 (Secondary Parkinsonism) and G22 (Parkinsonism classified elsewhere), to extract the number of deaths coded under
'Three sides to every story'- Living the patient, carer and staff experience of COVID
Introduction When COVID-19 first entered our world in March 2020 and the country went into lock down the NHS braced itself for one of its biggest challenges of this century. Older, frail patients were in the highest risk group, with those in care homes not only at higher risk of death, but higher risk of contracting COVID-19, often suffering more psychological disturbances (Hewitt et al., 2020; Numbers & Brodaty, 2021). This study was conceived by two nurse researchers working throughout the pandemic on a COVID ward for predominantly older people, aiming to capture the experiences of patients
Dogs and Bones
Introduction The health benefits of owning dogs include improved physical activity, mental well-being, companionship, and so forth. However, musculoskeletal injuries caused by dog-related activities might negate the aforementioned benefits. The aim of this study was to estimate the number of femoral fractures directly linked to dog-related activities in people above the age of 60. Methods In this observational study, we included all patients above the age of 60 with femoral fractures caused by dog-related activities, over a one-year period (June 2022 to May 2023). We chose to include people
Working as a Multidisciplinary Team to Reduce Weight Loss - a Quality Improvement Project to Improve Nutrition In Older Patients
Introduction Weight loss is common during acute hospital admissions, and can be devastating to the older patient where weight loss is associated with an increase in mortality over a 12 month period. Patients who lack the ability to communicate their food preferences are at risk of receiving food they do not like, especially as food orders are often taken when family/carers are not present. Methods While working on a Department of Medicine for Older People and Stroke (DMOPS) ward, we worked with the Multidisciplinary team (MDT) with the aim of reducing weight loss. We implemented two
Improving Delirium Awareness and Screening
The 4AT Score is a simple tool recommended by NICE to help detect Delirium in everyday practice. In QEH Gateshead, clerking sheets include this score however it is frequently missed by admission doctors. Our QIP standard was that all patients >65 should be screened for Delirium in accordance with NICE Guidance and to improve this. Clerking sheets were audited to assess completion of 4AT scores. Improvement Methodology included prompt cards on working computers, posters in handover rooms, verbal reminders and quick teaching after morning handover. Run charts shows improvement in patients >65
MULTIFACTORIAL ANALYSIS IN A COHORT OF LATIN AMERICAN GERIATRIC PATIENTS WITH SARSCOV2 INFECTION AND SUBSEQUENT DEVELOPMENT OF HEART FAILURE
Introduction: Infection caused by the SARS-CoV-2 has been found to have serious consequences for the cardiovascular system. Among these, the development of heart failure (HF) has been stipulated; however, its causality has not yet been established. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to evaluate the role of clinical and laboratory parameters in determining the risk of developing HF in patients infected with SARS-CoV-2. Methodology: 151 electronic medical records were taken from hospitalized patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection and pneumonia, from 03/11/20 to 10/02/21. HF was
Results of a pilot comprehensive rehabilitation program in geriatric patients from a South American hospital
Introduction: COVID-19 disease can cause a wide variety of long-term health problems, such as impaired lung function, reduced exercise performance, and decreased quality of life. Our study aimed to investigate the efficacy, feasibility, and safety of pulmonary rehabilitation in patients with COVID-19 and to compare the results between patients with a mild/moderate and severe/critical course of the disease. Materials and Methods: Patients in the post-acute phase of a mild to critical course of COVID-19 admitted to a comprehensive pulmonary rehabilitation program were included in this